Laundry sling bag and cart therefor

ABSTRACT

A laundry sling bag and roll about cart therefor, the cart having a front and top open frame with upstanding tabs for holding the bag therein in a top open position for easy loading and for permitting vertically forward power liftoff of the loaded bag from the cart, the bag having two straps to receive the power liftoff conveyor and a cart retaining device being employed to hold the cart down during the power liftoff, the bag being tapered from a large top opening to a smaller but contoured bottom opening and having adjacent bottom flaps formed from one bag half to close the open bottom and overlap with a relieved opposite bag half, whereupon quick release of the flaps is effective to dump the articles of laundry therein without binding or jamming and into a small loading opening in an underlying washer. In industrial or institutional laundries, it is common to segregate the dirty or soiled articles or goods in sling bags according to the specific types of article or color. For example, different type hospital goods might include uniforms, operating garments, patient garments, bed sheets, etc., where all like goods would be sorted into separate sling bags each of sufficient size to hold maybe 100 pounds of goods. The bags with like goods then can be accumulated and as required dumped into large industrial washers of maybe 400 pound capacity for laundering. By having all like type goods together, the proper washing temperature or washing solution can be used.

United States Patent [191 Fortriede July 3,1973

[ LAUNDRY SLING BAG AND CART THEREFOR [75] lnventor: Charles J.Fortrlede, Highland Heights, Ky.

[73] Assignee: McGraw-Edlson Company, Elgin, ill. [22] Filed: July 26,1971 [21] Appl. No.: 165,989

[52] U.S. Cl. 214/44 R, 150/1, 248/l29 [51] Int. Cl. 865g 67/24 [58]Field of Search 214/38 CA, 42, 44,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/l923 Travis 214/38 CA11/1965 Herman 280/792 X Primary Examiner-Robert G. SheridanAttorney-Charles F. Lind for easy loading and for permitting verticallyforward power liftoff of the loaded bag from the cart, the bag havingtwo straps to receive the power liftoff conveyor and a cart retainingdevice being employed to hold the cart down during the power liftoff,the bag being tapered from a large top opening to a smaller butcontoured bottom opening and having adjacent bottom flaps formed fromone bag half to close the open bottom and overlap with a relievedopposite bag half, whereupon quick release of the flaps is effective todump the articles of laundry therein without binding or jamming and intoa small loading opening in an underlying washer.

In industrial or institutional laundries, it is common to segregate thedirty or soiled articles or goods in sling bags according to thespecific types of article or color. For example, different type hospitalgoods might include uniforms, operating garments, patient garments, bedsheets, etc., where all like goods would be sorted into separate slingbags each of sufficient size to hold maybe 100 pounds of goods. The bagswith like goods then can be accumulated and as required dumped intolarge industrial washers of maybe 400 pound capacity for laundering. Byhaving all like type goods together, the proper washing temperature orwashing solution can be used.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures LAUNDRY SLING BAG AND CART THEREFOR Thisinvention relates to a sling bag construction and to a roll about cartfor holding same open.

An object of the invention is to provide a cart and bag arrangementwhich is separably connected to permit powered vertical disengagement ofthe bag from the cart, where the bag has two upper straps which can behooked onto a moving conveyor, and where the cart has a lower cross barthat can be held down by an overlying floor lug to keep the cart inplace on the floor during the upward powered bag removal.

Anotherobject of this invention is to provide a tubular bag that has adownwardly converging taper to the bottom tube line, where closure flapsare formed on one bag half to extend well below this tube line andacross the open bag bottom and overlap within the other bag half whichis relieved or cut away to well above this tube line and be secured inplace by a quick release clasp. This provides that goods in the bag arereadily discharged from the bottom when opened with little tendency tobind inside the bag, and the bag flaps further fit within the loadingopening of typical industrial washers for accurate goods discharge withlittle spill over onto the floor.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cart that is formed ofpartially fabricated quick connect flat stock components which whenbroken down form a compact package for easy shipping and which furthercan be readily set up by the customer and when set up is nestable withother carts of like construction.

These and other objects of this invention will be more fully understoodand appreciated after reviewing the following specification, theaccompanying drawing being a part thereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cart with the sling bag shown inphantom supported thereon, and further showing a moving conveyor hookand the cart retaining lug and block in place;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the cart and bag combination shown in FIG.1, with part of the structure being broken away for clarity ofdisclosure;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of part of the cart and the bagcombination of FIG. 1, again with part of the structure being brokenaway;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the dismantled fabricated components that formthe cart shown in FIGS. 1 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the bag shown in FIGS. 1 3, except as it islying on a flat surface and in the open condition; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken generally from line 6 6 in FIG. 5,except with the bag in the closed condition.

The invention is disclosed in its basic concept in FIG. 1 where a cart10 having structural frame 12 supported on casters 14 is designed tohold a bag 16 so that the top 18 is open square and can be easilyloaded. To accomodate this, the bag 16 has rings or eyelets 20 which fitover four upstanding tabs 22 and 23 on the frame at the corners of thebag. The bag has two straps 24 each having a loop or eyelet 26 formed atthe center thereof so that a hook 28 of an overhead conveyor 30 can bebrought into registry over the bag and cart combination to allow thestrap eyelets 26 to be engaged on the con veyor hook 28. Moreover, atongue 32 is adapted to overlie the frame 12 to hold the cart 10 againstthe supporting floor and blocks 34 can also be located in front of thecasters so that the conveyor can move vertically and forwardly relativeto the cart to lift the bag from the frame tabs 22 and 23 with the cartmoving. To accomodate the bag'removal, the frame 12 has an open frontand top, as it is noted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

In a broad context, this invention would be most aptly applied forsoiled goods before laundering where at a sorting table or the like anoperator can selectively sort the soiled laundry into selective bagseach supported on a cart. The bag size is designed when loaded to hold agiven poundage of laundry, for example pounds, so that by operatorexperience and with little extra manipulation the proper bag weight canbe approximated. An industrial washer having, for example, a 400 poundcapacity could be loaded then with four filled bags.

Thus, the operator would deposit selected articles of laundry into theopen top 18 of a bag 16 supported on the cart 10. When the appropriatebag load has been achieved, the cart would be wheeled from the sortingarea over to a bag power takeoff area under a conveyor 30. The cart 10here is locked in place by means of the tongue 32 and the blocks 34relative to the floor, and the conveyor hook 28 is brought into registryover the bag where the two opposing bag straps 24 are engaged onto thehook. Eyelets 26 prevent shifting of the bag relative to the hook. Afterbooking the bag onto the conveyor hook, the operator merely actuates theconveyor to cause it to move in an upward and forward direction (asindicated at 36 in FIG. 1) relative to the secured cart so that the bageyelets 20 lift off the cart tabs 22 and 23 and is then solely suspendedon the conveyor.

Referring now to some specific structural details, initially note thatthe cart frame 12 is formed of fabricated components which fit in a flatpackage for easy shipment to a customer and which can be readilyassembled by the customer to the actual cart. The cart frame 12 has abase 40 including forwardly diverging side elements 41 and a crosselement 42 connecting same as well as reinforcing struts 43. The ends ofeach side element 41 have sleeves 44 each having a through openingtherein in general vertical alignment and a set screw 45 opens to thesleeve opening. The frame back 48 has a pair of vertical legs 49connected together by a pair of cross elements 50 and reinforcing struts51 connect the upper cross element and the legs. Each leg bottom isthreaded at 52 and each leg top has thereon a fitting 53 with a threadedtap forwardly open and generally normal to the vertical leg 49. Frontsupport legs 55 each has a threaded bottom 56 and a threaded top 57, andthe top side bars 59 each has a threaded rear end 60 and a right anglefront fitting 61 with a bottom open threaded tap. The tabs 22 and 23 areon the top side bars 59, the rear tab 22 being merely a short verticallyupstanding finger and the front tab 23 having a Y configurationsupported on an upwardly and inwardly inclined arm 62. The casters 14have a threaded top opening 65.

By fitting the thread 60 on the top side pipe 59 into the top fitting 53on the rear frame and likewise by threading the upper thread 57 into theforward threaded fitting 61 of the side bar 59, a box like structure isobtained with the assembled rear frame 48, the top side elements 59 andthe front legs 55. As thus assembled, the lower ends of the rear frame48 and front legs 59 are fitted through the corresponding openings onthe base fitting 44 and the caster taps 65 are secured to the threadedends 52 and 56. The set screws 45 are set in place, preferably throughan aligned opening in one wall of the tubular leg to locate the base 40relative to the legs.

Not only can the frame be set up by a user on location, but theassembled cart is readily nestable with others of like type for compactstoring. The forwardly diverging top side elements 59, (as seen in FIG.2) and the diverging base side elements 4] allow this. The Y tabs 23 areelevated above the rear tab 22 so that they clear one another duringthis cart nesting. The cart frame can most economically be made oftubular steel pipe or tubing and accordingly the threaded sections canbe I typical pipe threads. The fittings in turn can be typical pipefittings or elbows and the entire cart can be set up merely with a pipewrench by a person having no mechanical expertise.

in like manner, the bag 16 is formed from a canvas or nylon material asbasically a tubular configuration. The upper tube and hem line 68 areexactly the same, and the eyelets 20 are secured at this lineapproximately by webs or the like sewn to the bag as might be typical inthe art. The two straps 22 are likewise secured at adjacent bag cornersadjacent the eyelets, and the strap material preferably would extendalong part of the bag corner as reinforcing vertical strips 70 sewn tothe tube. As noted,'the straps preferably have a centered eyelet 26therein as by sewing adjacent parts of the strap together, which permitsthe use of only two straps on a single conveyor overhead conveyor hookwhile yet stabily supporting the bag in the vertical orientation.

Although the bag material is basically tubular in nature it does have ataper from its upper tube and hem line 68 to a slightly narrower tubeline 72. This taper might be equivalent to where, for example, a 100inch perimeter exists at top line 68 and at 85 inch perimeter exists atbottom line 72 and where the separation of these lines or tube heightmight be 50 inches. This decreasing taper towards the bottom of the bagpermits a wide opening for loading at the top and a narrower dischargechute like opening at the bottom which would more readily fit into orrelative to the loading opening of an industrial washer. The bag can beeasily dumped with little tendency of binding or jaming of the goodstherein because of the specific closure flaps to be disclosed now.

The actual bottom or hem line 74 of the bag or tube is irregular, withapproximately one circumferential half 75 being above or shorter thanlower tube line 72 and the opposite approximate circumferential half 76being below or longer than this tube line. As noted, the four bagcorners above strips 70 are supported in a generally square openconfiguration by the four cart tabs, and each panel below and betweenthese strips is approximately one fourth of the tube perimeter.

The shorter or relieved circumferential tube half 75 hem line convergesupwardly as at 73 from the lower tube line 72 until approximatelyone-third of the way across the quarter panel, it then parallels thetube line as at 77 for approximately another one-third way across thequarter panel, and lastly convergesupwardly as at 78 to meet with theadjacent quarter panel hem line at a rounded cutout or slit 79 generallyacross one bag corner. The total height of the cutout 79 above the tubeline 72 might be, for example, a full panel width or one-fourth of thetube perimeter at the lower tube line 72.

The longer or extended circumferential tube half converges downwardlyaway from the tube line 72 as at 81 to a rounded corner 82 approximatelyone-half way across the quarter panel and then reverses itself toconverge upwardly as at 83 to again meet the adjacent quarter panel hemline at a rounded corner 84 generally across the diagnally opposite bagcorner. The longer circumferential bag half is used as two closure flapswhich are adapted to cross and close the bottom opening of the tube andto overlap the opposite lower portion of the relieved circumferentialtube half. The distance, for example, thereby between the rounded corner82 of each flap and the generally parallel relief area 77 on theadjacent panel is approximately the width of two quarter panels at thelower tube line 72.

To secure the closure flaps in the bag closed position there is provideda quick release device shown in FIG. 6. In this arrangement, a bracket86 is secured to the lower end of one reinforcing strip approximatelyone panel width above the lower tube line edge 79 and this bracket 86has an opening 87 which opens downwardly towart the bag bottom. Onerounded flap corner has a buckle 88 while the adjacent rounded flapcorner has a stem 89 with an end opening 90. The stem 89 is fittedthrough the buckle 88 to secure the flaps together and the stem 89 isthen fitted through the bracket opening 87 to locate the lapped flapsacross to thereby close the bag tube. A catch 92 pivoted at 93 from thebracket 86 has a protruding end 94 that fits through the stern openingto preclude separation of the stem from the bracket. A rope or line 95attached to the catch 92 is used for manually shifting the catch torelease the flaps when such is required.

When the bag is closed and the goods are loaded into the bag, they aresupported on the crossed closure flaps. Consequently, when the crossedflaps are released, the unsupported load drops vertically and can alsoshift horizontally toward the unfolding relieved tube half. Thiscapacity for the load to shift horizontally allows easy dumping withoutjamming. The downwardly converging tapered bag walls provide a large topopening for easy loading while yet give a small enough bottom opening tofit within the opening of the washer. This minimizes any spilling out ofthe load onto the floor. The uncurled flaps on one tube half furthertend to guide the released load into the washer openmg.

What is claimed is:

l. A sling bag and roll about cart combination, comprising said carthaving an open top and an open front and having a base with rollersthereon and having front and rear pairs of vertical support legsconnected to the base and extending upwardly therefrom and side and rearelements connected to the legs near the upper ends thereof, fourupstanding tabs formed respectively near the front and rear ends of theside elements and defining a generally square configuration as seen inplan, said bag being tubular and fitting with clearance inside thevertical legs and upper end elements connected thereto, four eyeletrings secured to the tubular bag adjacent the top thereof for support ofthe bag on the cart tabs, straps connected to the bag adjacent the ringsthereon and each having a loop, a power hook adapted to be brought inregistry over the bag and cart whereby the strap loops can be engaged onthe power hook, means holding the cart down and stationary relative tothe power hook whereby the power hook can move in the direction upwardlyand forwardly of the cart to lift the bag from the tabs, the tubular baghaving an open bottom and having flaps that can be disposed thereacrossfor closing the bottom, and a quick release device for releasablyholding the flaps closed.

2. The cart and bag combination according to claim 1, wherein said sideelements diverges forwardly from the rear legs to the front legs at theopen front end of the cart, and wherein the vertical front legs arebowed.

3. The cart and bag combination, according to claim 2, wherein the frontend tabs are located at an elevation higher than the rear end tabs, andeach front end tab being supported on an upwardly and inwardly inclinedarm from the side element.

4. The bag and car combination according to claim 1, wherein the loweredge of the tubular bag has an irregular hem line where approximatelyhalf of the hem line is shorter than or above what would be the normallower tube line and where the approximate other half of the hem line islonger than or below the lower tube line, and where the closure flapsare defined on the longer hem line side and are designedwhen the flapsare closed to be secured relative to the bag at the shorter hem lineside.

5. The bag and cart combination according to claim 4, wherein theshorter hem line side of the bag extends above the lower tube line adistance approximately equal to one-fourth of the lower tube lineperimeter,

7. The bag and cart combination according to claim 1, wherein the cartis formed of fabricated frame components each easily assembled togetherto the cart configuration, including the base having opposed side barsanda cross bar connecting said side bars and sleeve fittings formed atthe opposite ends of the side bars, a rear structure having said rearvertical support legs and rear element connected thereto, the separatevertical front support legs and the separate side elements, and theseparate rollers, where the upper end of each rear support leg and therear end of the adjacent side element are threaded together across aright angle elbow, where the upper end of each front support leg and thefront end of the adjacent side element are threaded together across aright angle elbow, where the lower end of each vertical leg can befitted into the respective sleeve fittings and secured thereto, andwhere the rollers are threaded to the frame components under therespective vertical leg.

1. A sling bag and roll about cart combination, comprising said carthaving an open top and an open front and having a base with rollersthereon and having front and rear pairs of vertical support legsconnected to the base and extending upwardly therefrom and side and rearelements connected to the legs near the upper ends thereof, fourupstanding tabs formed respectively near the front and rear ends of theside elements and defining a generally square configuration as seen inplan, said bag being tubular and fitting with clearance inside thevertical legs and upper end elements connected thereto, four eyeletrings secured to the tubular bag adjacent the top thereof for support ofthe bag on the cart tabs, straps connected to the bag adjacent the ringsthereon and each having a loop, a power hook adapted to be brought inregistry over the bag and cart whereby the strap loops can be engaged onthe power hook, means holding the cart down and stationary relative tothe power hook whereby the power hook can move in the direction upwardlyand forwardly of the cart to lift the bag from the tabs, the tubular baghaving an open bottom and having flaps that can be disposEd thereacrossfor closing the bottom, and a quick release device for releasablyholding the flaps closed.
 2. The cart and bag combination according toclaim 1, wherein said side elements diverges forwardly from the rearlegs to the front legs at the open front end of the cart, and whereinthe vertical front legs are bowed.
 3. The cart and bag combination,according to claim 2, wherein the front end tabs are located at anelevation higher than the rear end tabs, and each front end tab beingsupported on an upwardly and inwardly inclined arm from the sideelement.
 4. The bag and cart combination according to claim 1, whereinthe lower edge of the tubular bag has an irregular hem line whereapproximately half of the hem line is shorter than or above what wouldbe the normal lower tube line and where the approximate other half ofthe hem line is longer than or below the lower tube line, and where theclosure flaps are defined on the longer hem line side and are designedwhen the flaps are closed to be secured relative to the bag at theshorter hem line side.
 5. The bag and cart combination according toclaim 4, wherein the shorter hem line side of the bag extends above thelower tube line a distance approximately equal to one-fourth of thelower tube line perimeter, and the longer hem line side of the bagextends below the lower tube line a distance approximately equal toone-fourth of the lower tube line perimeter.
 6. The bag and cartcombination according to claim 4, wherein the tubular bag configurationtapers in a downwardly converging manner from the upper tube line to thelower tube line at a rate of approximately one-fourth inch smallerperimeter for every one inch of axial separation of upper and lower tubelines.
 7. The bag and cart combination according to claim 1, wherein thecart is formed of fabricated frame components each easily assembledtogether to the cart configuration, including the base having opposedside bars and a cross bar connecting said side bars and sleeve fittingsformed at the opposite ends of the side bars, a rear structure havingsaid rear vertical support legs and rear element connected thereto, theseparate vertical front support legs and the separate side elements, andthe separate rollers, where the upper end of each rear support leg andthe rear end of the adjacent side element are threaded together across aright angle elbow, where the upper end of each front support leg and thefront end of the adjacent side element are threaded together across aright angle elbow, where the lower end of each vertical leg can befitted into the respective sleeve fittings and secured thereto, andwhere the rollers are threaded to the frame components under therespective vertical leg.